Automobile traffic signal



F PETERLIN ET AL.

AUTOMOBILE TRAFFIC SIGNAL Original Filed Nov. 22. 1921 July 2s, 192s.

Patented July 28, 1925.

PATENT 'OFFIQE FRANK PETERLIN AND HUG'C W. OF DENVER, COLORADO.

AUTOMOBILE TRAFFIC SIGNAL.

Application led November 22, 1921, Serial No. 516,958. Renewed .Tune 13,1925.

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK PETERLIN'l will enable others skilled in theart to whichk it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an electrically operated traiic signal,suitable for use on automobiles.

Owing to the great number of automobiles on our streets and highwayseverywhere, it is found to .be essential to the safety of all that thedrivers of the vehicles shall signal in some intelligible manner theirintention to turn to the right or t0 the left, or to stop, in order thatthe driver of the car following may be apprised of the exact action tobe taken bythe car ahead, and so govern his own actions as to prevent anaccident.

Many diiferentmethods of signalling, for the above purpose, have beensuggested and tried, among which the most popular method in use todayconsists of the use of the drivers left arm as a semaphore. When closedcars are used, it is, of course, very ditlicult for the driver to signalwith his arm. Y

It is the object of this invention to provide a signal that can beplaced at some conspicuous place on the rear s"of an automobile-forexample, over the left fenderand which can be conveniently operated bythe driver by merely moving a suitable electric switch which is locatedwithin easy reach.

In order to more clearly describe our invention, we shall have referenceto the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 shows the rear of anautomobile equipped with our signal;

Fig. 2 is a view showing in full lines the relative arrangement of theparts when thev indicator is in neutral position, and in dotted linesthe relative arrangement when the signal indicates a left turn;

Fig. 3 is a View showing in full lines the relative arrangement of partswhen the signal indicates a right turn, and in dotted lines the relativeposition when the signal indicates St/OPN; l

Fig. 4 is a side view of the indicator arrow with parts broken away toshow the location of the lamp; and

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram showing the electrical connections.

rThe same reference numbers will be used to indicate the same partsthroughout the several views.

Our signal, which we will refer to as a whole by the numeral 1,comprises a rectangular or other suitably shaped box having a bottom 2,sides 3 and ends 4, and a cover which has been shown in Fig. 1 only. Theoperating mechanism consists of a rotatable spindle 6 which carries apinion 7 A bracket comprising a bar 8 serves to hold the spindle 6 inplace and to provide a suitable bearing therefor. A lever 9 is pivotednear its center on a pivot 10, which is parallel to spindle 6 and ismaintained in its neutral or horizontal position through the action ofspring 11 whose central portion is secured firmly to the lower end ofbracket 8. Bar 9 carries an arcuate member 12, whose teeth 13 engagewith the teeth of pinion 7 and tend to rotate the latter as the bar 9moves about its pivot 10. Carried on the outer end of spindle 6 androtatable therewith is an indicator 14, which is made in the generaloutline of an arrow, whose point normally is directed upwardly. Theindicator 14 is made hollow and its back surface is formed by a piece ofred glass 15. Within the indicator 14 is a lamp 16, which can be used atnight to render the same visible, and which is preferably so connectedthat it will be lighted whenever the indicator is operated.

For the purpose of enabling the driver to rock the bar 9 on its pivot1() and thus turn spindle 6 and its indicator 14, we have provided threeelectro-magnets which we have designated as L, R and S, and haveprovided the bar 9 with three corresponding armatures Z, r and s,respectively. When magnet L is energized, it attracts armature Z andmoves bar 9 about its pivot in a clockwise direction, thus rotatingspindle 6 and indicator 14 in a counter clock-wise direction, until thelatter assumes the position shown dotted in Fig. 2. When the driverdesires to turn to the right, he energizes electro-magnet R, whichattracts armature r and rotates the indicator 14 in a clock-wisedirection to the position indicated by m in Fig. 3. It will be noticedthat armature r is attached to. bar 9 by a rod 17, which is slidable ina hole in the end of the bar. A. sp-ring 18 surrounds rod 17 and servesto keep the armature r properly spaced from bar 9. When the driverdesires to stop, he energizes electro-magnet S, which attracts armatures and rotates the indicator to the position indicated by Y (Fig. 3). Inso doing, it is evident that armature r will engage the pole of magnetR, and that bar 17 will be forced to slide through bar 9, compressingspring 18. The connections are so arranged that when the operatordesires to bring the indicator to stop position, he energizes insuccession magnets: R and S, and in this manner magnet R rotates theindicator 14 ninety degrees, after which magnet S giv'es it a furtherrotation of ninety degrees. Thus magnet S avoids operating through anexcessively long air gap..

In Fig. 5 we have indicated diagrammatically the wiring connections, andhave shown as a source of energy a battery B, which may be the regulanstarting and ignition battery, one side of which is grounded. From theungrounded side we run a wire 19 to a movable switch arm 20, which isarranged, to contact in Vsuccession with contacts 21, 22 and 23, whichare connected respectively with magnets L, R and S. The lamp 16 isconnected to the battery by a separate wire and controlled by switch 24.At L, R and S we have shown the position of the switch arm 2O when thesignal is set for left, right and stop, respectively.

From the above it will be seen that we have provided a signal that iswell adapted to be attached to an automobile, and which enables thedriver, by simply moving a switch lever 20, to set the signal in thedesired manner. Our signal is of simple and substantial construction,and can be cheaply and readily installed on any vehicle. The indicator14, being provided with a light and a red glass, can be used instead ofthe ordinary tail light, serving for this purpose as well as for asignal.

IVe are aware that the results aimed at by us can be obtained by meanswhich d iffer specifically from those described above, and

we therefore desire to avail ourselves of our right to make alterationswithin the scope of the appended claim.

When the lamp switch 24 is closed, for the purpose of illuminating theindicator 14, the latter may serve as a tail light when in the normal orupright position shown in Fig. 1.

Having now described our invention, what we claim is- A traffic signalfor automobiles comprising a casing, a spindle rotatably mountedtherein, a normally vertical signal member mounted on the spindle, apinion onsaid spindle, a bracket secured tosaid casing, said brackethaving a bearing for one end of said spindle, a lever pivot-edintermediate its ends to said bracket, a gear segment secured to saidlever, said segment being in operative engagement with the pinion, aspring secured intermediate its ends to said bracket and having its endsin engagement with said lever on opposite sides of the pivot soas tohold it yieldingly in a neutral position, an armatureon each end of saidlever, an electromagnet operatively related to each armature, saidelectromagnets being both on the same side of the lever, whereby onewill function to rotate the lever in one direction and the other in theopposite direction, a third armature connected to said lever near oneend thereof and on the opposite side from the first mentioned armatures,an electromagnet operatively related to the last mentioned armature, andmeans for connecting the last named armature to the lever in such amanner that it can be moved closer to the lever, but cannot be movedfarther away therefrom.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

FRANK PETERLIN. HUGO W. FEI-IR.

